Pioneering gene-therapy treatment cures leukaemia

Palliative care felt like the only option left for 13-year-old leukaemia patient Alyssa Tapley, until she became the first person in the world to take a treatment that edits healthy immune cells to fight cancer.

- REBECCA WHITTAKER

The teenager from Leicester was diagnosed with T-cell leukaemia in May 2021, after a long period of what her family thought were colds, viruses and general tiredness.

She did not respond to chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant, and thought her cancer was “incurable” until the research opportunity was proposed.

When Alyssa received the therapy in 2022, she remained cautiously optimistic after her leukaemia became undetectable.

But three years later, aged 16, the treatment has proven to be life changing. She has been discharged to long-term follow up and has dreams of becoming a research scientist herself.

“I chose to take part in the research as I felt that, even if it didn’t work for me, it could help others. Years later, we know it worked and I’m doing really well. I’ve done all those things that you’re supposed to do when you’re a teenager,” Alyssa said.

“I’ve gone sailing, spent time away from home doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award but even just going to school is something I dreamed of when I was ill. I’m not taking anything for granted.

“Next on my list is learning to drive, but my ultimate goal is to become a research scientist and be part of the next big discovery that can help people like me.”